ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 11790, 13 January 1904, Page 9

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

(SHOM OUR OWN - CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, December 4. Mr D. R. Eunson, general manager of the Dunedin Tramways, arrived in London on Monday night. Tho object of his visit is mainly to purchase engines for New Zealand tramways, also for motorcars, etc. Hβ tells mc that so far, his preference is for the Dieeel internal combustion oil motor, which, in his opinion, is not only the most-efficient motor at present in the market for that purpose, but is also free from the drawback attaching to so many oil motors of being a street nuisance on account of their smell. He declares that the Diesel oil engine gives off no unpleasant odour, neither doee it emit smoke.

Dr. P. W. Pennefather, LL.D., who returned from Germany some little time back, has now practically settled in London for the winter. Hβ had a delightful time in Germany, staying with friends at Heidelberg and elsewhere, and since his return he has been paying a long round of country visits to friends in England. At Uppingham School he was the guest of the headmaster, and by special request lectured on New Zealand to an audience of 450 boys, whom he found most appreciative," and as pleasant an audience ;is it was possible for a lecturer to have. Tho ex-Jndge is in excellent health. On Sunday last the death took place of Mrs Frances Sarah Wilson, widow of the late Mr Frederick IH. Wilson, of Cashmere, Canterbury, New- Zealand. Mrs Wilson had been in ill-health for some months past, and her relutives in this country, who watched over her most affectionately, had the pain of knowing throughout that her sufferings could have but one termination. She passed away | at Chilmark Rectory, at the age of sixty- j nine. • j Mr O. T. J. Alpers contributes to th« current number of the "Empire Review" j an amusing and brightly-written article entitled "Humours of Antipodean Politics." It consists mainly of a long string of good stories about the prominent men of New Zealand's public history. To readers in this country they appear to be quite new, judging, by the frequency with which they are quoted and referred to by London papers. . The late Messrs J. K. FitzGerald and W. B. D. Mantell were ] the suyers of most of the best things wbidi ( Mr Alpers hns embalmed. Among the latest wills announced is that I of "Ucorgiana Adelaide, Counteen of Seafield, of Mayne, Ogilvie, Scotland, and of 61 ! Onslow Gardens, London, widow of the ninth Earl of Seafield, who died last September, and who left estate amounting u> £35,590 cross. Lady Seafield left her jewellery and personal ornaments in trust for sale, bequeathing the proceeds to Dr. Barnardo's Homes. The mass of her property goes to her nephew, Sir Frederick Forestier-Walker, so it is etated. I Major Pilcher, of the South Britieh Insurance Company, who did such good work for the New Zealand troops on their arrival at Capetown, is expected in London before long on a six months' leave of I lieor that Mr W. H. Carlyle, a New Zealander, lias invented a process for railway ballasting, from which great thinga are" expected. Yesterday evening Lieutenant L. H. Shackleton, R.N., late of the Discovery exploring ship in the Antarctic, was present at the opening meeting of_the session of the Aeronautical Society of Great Britain, held at the Society of Arts, Dr. William. Napier Shaw, F.R.S., being in the cliair. Lieutenant Shackleton showed slides depicting the inflation and ascent of the balloon carried by the- Discovery on the ice-field in 17 or 18 degrees of frost. One of the views was taken from the balloon at a height of 750 ft. There was nothing visible but ice, which might "have extended to the Pole, ffite thought there was a future for the balloon in Polar exploration, and that in any other expedition oive would be taken. 1 hear that Mr A J. Kelman, the managing director of the Capetown Gas Company and of the City of Wellington Electric .Light Co. is leaving London for the purpose of visiting the Company* properties at Capetown and at Wellington, N«w Zealand.